Education is the foundation on which all other aspects of life are built. Education begins at our first breath and continues until our last. Education is the accumulation of knowledge and behaviors. The dissemination of that knowledge is the responsibility of elders and peers alike. Classroom education is a microcosm of societal education and should be held to the same standards.
We hold our leaders in high-esteem and require much of them. However, a good leader should do just that. A leader takes in all aspects of the world around him/her and uses them to develop the best course of action. Teachers are the leaders of the classroom and need to take that same approach in the development of curriculum and teaching methods.
Varied cultural backgrounds require varied approaches to make the highest level of instruction possible. Classrooms are tiny communities in which the cultural voices of all are important. Just like a political, economic, or social community, the whole classroom community is strengthened when everyone works together toward a common purpose. It is the job of the teacher to sell that purpose to the classroom community.
A key to a vibrant classroom community is in creating an atmosphere in which multiculturalism is encouraged and expressed. All students bring something to the table and should be encouraged to share the aspects that make them unique. At the same time, as a community, student and teachers should work together to create their identity. When people have a level of communal accountability, they are more likely to attempt to achieve their potential.
My objective as a teacher is to create an environment in which maximum transfer of knowledge is possible. Educators worry about getting all of the required benchmarks met and that is certainly important. However, if the environment is not conducive to an exchange of ideas, then you can lecture until you are blue in the face and nothing will change. Making sure every student feels important, welcome, and comfortable expressing themselves is essential if this is to happen.
Teachers are guides, they are not all knowing. A teacher that stands in front of students and dictates information with little input from them is doing everyone a disservice. No student will offer input of they feel that they do not relate to the teacher. Education is about sharing knowledge and sharing requires give and take. My goal as an educator is to provide the road map to success. The journey is not easy and the road long but I plan to help the students see that it is a journey worth taking.
No comments:
Post a Comment